‘Technology is connecting us in ways never seen before in human history. How will that change our societies, our relationships, ourselves?’
That’s the question that interests Michael Wesch. He is a cultural anthropology professor who explores the effects of new media on society and culture. He believes that all human relationships depend on communication. Change the type of communication, and you change the relationships. Change the relationships, and you change the structure of society.
In my opinion, I believe that this statement to be true. Firstly, one example of this, Wesch said about television. When television became the dominant medium in the 1950s, it changed the way families interacted. Family members began to sit in front of the TV to watch rather than face each other to talk. The people on the television spoke, and the TV viewers listened. In this one-way type of communication, only the people on TV had power. Only they had a voice.
Secondly, Today, the Internet is changing our relationships again. The newest media of communication are on the Internet, and these media change and grow every day. The most obvious transformation in people relationships is how they communicate with each other. By this, I mean that the Internet has converted the world into a small village and nowadays people around the world can reach each other easily and rapidly. For example, a friend who lives in the UK can chat and talk with their friends in Thailand using a mobile phone or social network.
Another field in which technology affects our life is the way that people make friends. In other words, it has been observed that these days we can make friends from all nationalities without any effort or spending money and this helps with culture interchange and help people who suffer.
In conclusion, It is true that technology in recent years has altered the path that people communicate with each other. There are many ways that technology affects our relationships. I want to believe that technology can help us see relationships and global connections in positive new ways.